Ondo poll: Court dismisses Jimoh Ibrahim’s suit challenging Aiyedatiwa as APC guber candidate

• The suit was struck out by Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a ruling on Wednesday, after Ibrahim’s counsel, Olakunle Lawal, withdrew the it.

A suit challenging the outcome of the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s April 20 governorship primaries in Ondo State has been dismissed by a Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja.

The suit, which was challenging the emergence of Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the winner of the primary, was was filed by by Sen. Jimoh Ibrahim (APC-Ondo).

The suit was struck out by Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a ruling on Wednesday, after Ibrahim’s counsel, Olakunle Lawal, withdrew the it.

Justice Ekwo said that after Ibrahim’s notice of withdrawal dated May 27 but filed May 28, and which was not opposed by the defendants, “an order is hereby made dismissing this suit as parties have joined issues with one another.”

In the suit marked: FHC)ABJ/CS/588/2024 marked: FHC)ABJ/CS/588/2024, Ibrahim sued APC, Aiyedatiwa and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INE) as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.

The suit was filed by his lawyer, Chief Chris Uche, SAN.

Ibrahim, an aspirant in the primaries and a senator representing Ondo South at the Senate, prayed the court to set aside the April 20 governorship poll of the party that produced Gov. Aiyedatiwa as its candidate.

He urged the court to declare that Aiyedatiwa is not the valid candidate of APC by virtue of the party’s non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the regulations and guidelines of the political party in the conduct of the poll.

He, therefore, sought an order of perpetual injunction, restraining the governor from parading himself as the APC’s governorship candidate for the November general election in Ondo State.

Ibrahim, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Affairs, equally prayed the court for a mandatory injunction compelling INEC to delist the names of APC and Aiyedatiwa from amongst the list of political parties and governorship candidates for the state’s governorship election, among others.